Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of moisturizers?

Moisturizers are primarily designed to hydrate the skin and maintain its moisture balance. They achieve this through various ingredients that provide hydration and help prevent water loss. This includes humectants, emollients, and occlusives that work together to lock in moisture and improve skin texture, making options A, C, and D true characteristics of moisturizers.

While sun protection is a crucial aspect of skincare, it is typically provided by specific products such as sunscreens rather than moisturizers. While some moisturizers may indeed contain SPF or sun-blocking ingredients, the core function of a standard moisturizer is not to provide sun protection, which is why this option stands out as not a characteristic inherent to moisturizers. Thus, the correct answer is the one that points to sun protection as not being a fundamental trait of moisturizers.